Jawad-rain causes severe damage to standing crops: Central Team

Over 5.78 lakh hectors crop damaged in 131 blocks of 12 districts Bhubaneswar, Dec 13: Cyclone Jawad has severely damaged standing crops including paddy and vegetable due to incessant rain caused by it. Crops on over 5.78 lakh hectares in around 131 blocks of twelve districts have been totally devoured by the devastating downpour, said the primary assay of the Central Team. Chief Secretary Suresh Chandra Mahapatra, Development Commissioner and Special Relief Commission Pardeep Kumar Jena along with senior officers of the State interacted with the central inter-ministerial team today evening after the team’s two days field visit to different areas of the State for assessment of the losses caused by the cyclone Jawad concluded today.  After having an assay of the situation at the ground zero level, the team discussed about the damages with senior officers of the State in a high level meeting held in State Lokseba Bhawan. During the discussion, Chief Secretary Mahapatra apprised that this year there was bumper crop in many districts as the deficit rainfall during the initial months were covered up in the following months of cropping. The crops were almost in ripening condition when the cyclone came near Odisha coast with heavy rainfall. In order to manage the crops before hit of Jawad along Odisha coast, the farmers were given advisories to harvest the crop and bring those to safe places as per the forecast of Indian metrological department. The farmers also tried their best. However, all the ripen crop could not be harvested and collected within a short span of time. Besides, many varietes of paddies and other major crops were nearing the ripen stage. Secretary Agriculture and Farmers Empowerment Suresh Kumar Bashistha appraised that apart from paddy and other major khariff crops, the heavy rain also caused severe damage to  brinjals,  curli-flower, potato, ground nut, and other major vegetables.  Development Commissioner Jena said that because of standing water in the agricultural fields, the farmers also could not sow seeds for the rabi crop.  Jena added, “Odishan climatic condition is also not conducive for late rabi crop as the temperature starts growing by mid February”. The inter-ministerial team leader  Ray mentioned that they saw heavy loss to farmers at the ground level caused by the cyclonic rain.  He opined that the famers who suffered loss needed governmental support and assistance. Discussions in the meeting showed that as per the eye estimates, standing crop on more than 5.78 lakh hectors in around 131 blocks of twelve districts were severely damaged. These districts were Ganjam, Bhadrak, Puri, Cuttack, Balasore, Kendrapara, Keonjhar, Khordha, Jagatsinghpur, Nayagarh, Jajpur and Mayurbhanj. The ground level assessment was going on and it would be completed in seven days.  Detail damage report would be sent to the team just after completion of the filed level assessment. Dr Man Singh, Ministry of Agriculture; Dr Manas Kumar Sinha, Ministry of Fisheries,  R. B. Kaul, Ministry of Finance; Shaswat Mohapatra, Ministry of Road Transport; and Poonam Jain, Ministry of Power, Government of India were other members of the team.